SiVIC

[loCAtek]

Silicon Valley interreligious group launched to promote harmony and compassion

By Sharon Noguchi

snoguchi@mercurynews.com
Posted: 03/06/2011 07:50:38 PM PST
Updated: 03/06/2011 10:21:40 PM PST

Promising to reach beyond their own religious traditions, the South Bay faithful gave birth Sunday to a transreligious group they hope will bridge differences and create a community forged by care and respect.

The Silicon Valley Interreligious Council intends to build understanding and harmony among religious groups and individuals who want to unite and promote a just and compassionate community.

At a meeting Sunday afternoon at Santa Clara University attended by about 200 people, SiVIC (pronounced "civic") was praised by people of various faiths.

"There's a huge entrepreneurial spirit in the valley, but we often don't know what each other is doing," said the Rev. D. Andrew Kille, a Baptist who led the committee that founded the new group.

So why would Silicon Valley, which hosts many interfaith groups, need another one?

"We don't have a real sense of focus or centeredness," said the Rev. Bruce Bramlett, an Episcopalian, who also was involved in the creation of the group. A three-year study by the Knight Foundation released in 2010, "The Soul of the Community," found that two-thirds of respondents in the valley felt disconnected. SiVIC's enthusiastic members hope to help remedy that.

"We want to help create the glue to connect various communities," said Mari Ellen Reynolds Loijens of the Silicon Valley Community Foundation.

The Rev. Jon Pedigo, a Catholic priest, noted that among the most disconnected groups is the valley's working class of mostly immigrants.

SiVIC has wasted no time in getting to work. On April 3 it will participate in a walk to raise awareness and dollars to combat world hunger and poverty. And the group hopes to create a plan for a mental health and spiritual response to disaster.

SiVIC's roots reach back to 1973, in the founding of the National Conference of Christians and Jews. Over the years that group incorporated other faiths, and after the Sept. 11 terror attacks held interfaith discussions called the "Circle of Palms," named after its downtown San Jose meeting place. And two years ago, SiVIC's predecessor became a partner in the Parliament of World Religions.

The existence of a group like SiVIC helps embolden government to act, said Dave Cortese, president of the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors, referring to lobbying on immigration, child health and other issues.

Religious leaders strengthen relationships and bring needed light to dark times, former San Jose Councilwoman Cindy Chavez said. "One of the reasons we are such a peaceful place is because of those relationships," she said.

If it sounded like SiVIC is the antithesis of the high-decibel anger of the tea party and talk radio, Cortese said he thought the group would welcome both the political left and right into a broad movement.

But the long list of organizations and leaders did not seem to include fundamentalist Christians nor right-wing agencies. Nor did it seem that those who are disenfranchised -- either economically, socially or religiously -- were at the gathering.

Still, the members were enthusiastic about SiVIC, clapping and swaying to Sunnyvale's Joyful Noise Gospel Singers, singing "Right here, right now, we build community."

Contact Sharon Noguchi at 408-271-3775.

SOUTH BAY crop walk

The South Bay CROP (Communities Responding to Overcome Poverty) Hunger Walk will be held April 3 at 1 p.m. The walk will begin at Hoover Middle School, 1635 Park Ave., San Jose. Contributions may be designated to different religious relief agencies. For information, go to http://www.sivicouncil.org.

[dgs49]

I wonder why they felt it was necessary to take a gratuitous slap at conservatives.

Somebody please cite an example of where "the Tea Party" is intolerant of any particular religion or religious tradition. Or any conservative talk show host - other than to point out that 90% of the armed conflicts in today's world involve Muslims (and things of that nature)?

And might one point out, in passing, that Islam is the most intolerant religion in the world, in which, for example, a majority of Egyptians believe that the appropriate punishment for conversion to Christianity or Judaism is death.

Did I miss it, or was Islam a part of the this religious love fest in the Silicon Valley?

And what about Liberals' general intolerance and disrespect for religion itself - as is commonly manifest on this BBS?

[loCAtek]

That seemed more like the decision of the journalist, as inclusion in the group is voluntary.

They do have a few Isalmic faith members;




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